Axle-spindle



G. A. FERGUSON. AXLE SPINDLE.

No. 583,195. Patented May 25,1897.

Inventon Uizafles ffifizywsmg Witnesses I Bv7Z Btbomevs.

UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

CHARLES A. FERGUSON, OF THEODORE, MARYLAND.

AXLE-S PIN DLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,195, dated May 25, 1897. Application filed October 12, 1896. Serial No. 608,691. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Theodore, in the county of Cecil and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Axle-Spindle,of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in spindles for vehicle-axles.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of spindles for vehicleaxles and enable the wear to be readily taken up without the employment of washers and without cutting down the outer end of the spindle and increasing the threaded portion thereof to enable the axle-nut to advance more closely on the axle-box.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spindle constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, an axle-box being arranged thereon. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is adetail perspective View of the spindle, the axle skein or sleeve and the adjustable collar being removed. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of the adjustable collar. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View of the sleeve or skein.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates an axle-spindle having its outer end threaded for the reception of an ordinary axle-nut 3. The outer portion of the spindle is round and its inner portion 4 is squared or otherwise polygonal and is adapted to receive a sliding skein or sleeve 5, which has a rectangular opening or bore to conform to the configuration of the rectangular portion 4 of the spindle. The sleeve or skein 5 forms a bearing for an axle-box 6, designed to be secured in the hub of a wheel in the ordinary manner. The outer portion of the bore or opening of the axle-box is reduced and of less diameter than the inner portion, in order to conform tothe configuration of and snugly receive and form a bearing fdr the rounded portion of the axle-spindle, and a shoulder 6 is formed at a point intermediate of the ends of the axle-box by the inner and outer portions of the opening or bore. The inner annular shoulder (5 of the axle-box fits against the outer end of the sleeve or skein 5, and the wear of the parts is received at this point, and the skein or sleeve 5 is adapted to be moved outward on the spindle of the axle to take up such wear and obviates the necessity of employing washers to accomplish the same result. The outer face of the sleeve or skein 5 is rounded to form a journal or bearing-surface for the axle-box, and the wear is received at the bottom of the sleeve or skein, and when the latter becomes worn at this point it is adapted to be removed from the spindle and partially rotated to bring fresh portions of its surface at the bottom, whereby it is adapted to be used until its entire surface has become worn. After its entire surface has become worn it may be readily replaced by a new sleeve or skein. The inner end of the sleeve or skein 5 is provided with an annular recess,

receiving and detachably swiveled to an annular portion 7 of a collar '8. The adjustable collar 8, which is provided with a polygonal portion or wrench-seat, is interiorly threaded and screws on an enlarged portion 9 at the inner end of the spindle. The annular or rounded portion 7 of the detachable collar is provided with an exterior annular groove 10, which is engaged by pins or fastening devices 11 of the skein or sleeve 5, and the pin 11, which is arranged in perforations of the sleeve or skein, extends across the inner face thereof a sufficient distance to engage the annular groove 10 of the collar 8. The pins or fasteningdevices 11 are threaded at one end and are provided at the other end with a head, and the perforations of the sleeve or skein are threaded for the reception of the threaded ends of the pins or screws 11. By this construction the pins or screws are prevented from becoming accidentally displaced and lost.

hen it is desired to take up the wear of the parts, the adjustable collar is readily rotated by means of a wrench to force the sleeve or skein outward, and as such sleeve or skein is slidingly mounted on the polygonal portion of the spindle and is swiveled to the ad j ustable collar it will be readily apparent that it can be moved outward by the rotation of the collar 8. Any amount of wear can be readily taken up in this manner, and the adjustable sleeve or collar obviates the necessity of reducing the spindle or employing washers.

It will be seen that the spindle is simple, strong, and durable, and that it will enable the wear of the parts to be readily taken up without removing a wheel and without employing washers or cutting down the axle. It will also be apparent that the sleeve or skein is adapted to be removed from the polygonal portion of the spindle and partially rotated to bring fresh portions of its surface at the bottom, so that its entire surface may be used before discarding it.

lVhat- I claim' is- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a spindle, a sleeve or skein slidingly mounted thereon and capable of movement longitudinally thereof to take up the wear, and an adjustable collar mounted on the spindle engaging the sleeve or skein and adapted to force the latter outward, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a spindle havingits outer end threaded and provided with an inner polgo- 11 al portion, a sleeve or skein slidingly in ounted on the polygonal portion of the spindle and having its opening or bore conforming to the configuration thereof, and an interiorly-threaded adjustable collar arranged on the threaded end of the spindle and swiveled to the adjacent end of the skeiu or sleeve, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a spindlehavingits inner end enlarged and threaded, provided with a polygonal inner portion and having its outer' portion rounded and threaded at the end to receive an axle-nut, an adjustable collar arranged -on the threaded inner end of the spindle, provided with a wrench-seat and having an annular portionwith an exterior annular groove, a sleeve or skein slidingly mounted on the polygonal portion of the spindle and provided at its inner end with an annular recess receiving the annular portion of the adjustable collar, and a pin passing through the inner end of the sleeve or skein and engaging the annular groove of the collar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a spindle having a polygonal inner portion and a rounded outer portion, a sleeve or skein arranged on the polygonal portion of the spindle and adapted to slide thereon, an axle-box having an outer reduced portion to fit the rounded portion of the spindle and having an enlarged inner portion receiving the sleeve or skein, said axle-box being provided at the juncture of the inner and outer portions of its bore with a shoulder fitting against the outer end of the sleeve or skein, and an adjustable collar mounted on the spindle, swiveled to the sleeve or skein and adapted to advance the same to take up the wear, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. FERGUSON.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN II. SIoeERs, W. B. HUDSON. 

